MINING AROUND FALKIRK

List of the the 40 men killed in the Redding Pit Disaster 
25^th September 1923

(Extracted from The Redding Pit Disaster by Amanda M. Jackson)

By date the bodies were  recovered:

25^th Sep 1923

Thomas Brown, Wallacestone

John Forrester, Redding

David Porteous, Redding

5^th October

Frank McGarvie, Falkirk

Michael McKenna, Falkirk

Andrew Anderson, California

10^th October – Dublin Section

William Anderson, California (son of Andrew above)

14^th October (Sunday)

Patrick Shiels, Falkirk  (see Note 2)

James Hannah, Reddingmuirhead

Thomas Aitken, Fireman, Redding

Thomas Kilgannon, Falkirk (not meant to be working -was standing in for a friend)

Thomas Thomson, Reddingmuir

  16^th October

  David Brown, Redding, nephew of Thomas Brown

  20^th October

John Lennie Wright, Wallacestone

7/8^th November - Bar Run Section

Alexander Hamilton, Wallacestone

James Marrs, Shieldhill

Thomas Thomson, Falkirk

Laurence T. Scobbie, Shieldhill (brother-in-law of David Thomson)

David Thomson Sen, Shieldhill

Lawrence Thomson Jun, Shieldhill, son of David, above

 

  11^th November

William Donaldson, Reddingmuir

  15^th November

Colin Maxwell (sen.), Wallacestone

Thomas Bonar, Laurieston

John Baxter, Reddingmuirhead

  20^th November

Walter Maxwell, Polmont, son of Colin above.

Archibal McNee, Redding

  22^nd November - Hen Run Section. (Some of these men lived up to Fourteen days)

Andrew Brown, Wallacestone

Robert Thomson, Brightons

Robert Beveridge, Reddingmuirhead

Thomas Thomson, Falkirk

Colin Maxwell (jun.), Wallacestone

David Bennie, Brightons

Henry Thomson, Polmont

John Beekman, Falkirk

James Adams, Polmont

Michael McLaughlin, Falkirk

James Jarvie, Fireman, Reddingmuirhead

  3^rd December

  James Cochrane, Redding

Also on souvenir napkin of remembrance but not in Amanda’s list

William Morrison

James Irvine

Mick O’Donnell  - this would make 41. He may have survived and have been replaced by Thomas Kilgannon

  Others that were pulled up alive on the 4^th October

John Donaldson

James Jack

John Miller

Robert Ure

Andrew Thomson

When Thomas Thomson’s belongings were returned to his wife, Elizabeth, she found a farewell message he had written to her and his family and put in his piece-tin when there seemed to be no hope of rescue:

“Dear Wife, Willie and Jeanie – be good to your mother. I am fine on this, the eighth day, if they get me.”

“Dear Wife – my love to you and mine –written by father.”

“Dear Lizzie and Willie Thomson – your dear father Tom. 28 one hope to hand, a last hope, I give myself up to the lord.”

James Jarvie, too, left some messages for his family. He was the man who could have saved himself on the day of the disaster but went back to warn his workmates:

“25^th – Tell my wife to keep up for the sake of her children, for I don’t believe I will see her again. God bless you and keep you, for my mind is made up. I will never see you again. Your loving husband, James Jarvie”

“My dear wife, I believe you think I am drowned. I am alive yet, and have great hope of being saved. Keep your heart, Maggie, and look after the weans and my two boys in America.”

“Dearest Maggie, convey the news to our two sons. Tell Peggie, James, Lily, Jeanie and wee Maisie to keep up. It is a sore blow to you, Maggie, Good-bye”

Toms Notes:

1) The grandson of one of James Jarvie’s sons in America contacted me a couple of years ago and I sent him a copy of Amanda’s excellent booklet. Only a few pounds from Falkirk Libraries.

2) Patrick Shiels grandson asked me to make sure his name was spelled correctly; it is shown incorrectly as Shields on the memorial and in Amanda's booklet..

Tom Paterson.  Last updated 1 Jan 2007